Guy at work: "I sometimes wonder if I have ADD because...HEY! Nice tie!

Barry, you're absolutely right - no surprise. Most schools are aimed at teaching the most kids the most stuff. They usually don't have the teachers or time to focus on kids who don't fit the mold. I got lucky and had ONE teacher who worked with my parents and I, and she's probably the reason I can function.

People often think that the problems ADD causes are because a kid just isn't trying enough, as if it were a matter of willpower. It's like pain. You can be in intense pain, but your family, friends and doctor may think you're just a weak whiner. They can't sense your pain, so they either trust you when you tell them about it or they think you're lying, exaggerating, doing it to get attention, etc.

It's been my experience that ADD people get along together because they DO accept what others tell them.   "I can't do that because I'm not interested." Other folks may wonder why you just won't get interested because it's important to them. They think you're just plain rude, selfish, or uncaring. Of course, there are a whole lot of people who do understand, perhaps, like Barry's non-ADD family members, they're the ones who've grown up around folks with ADD. Perhaps they're just a little more accepting of differences.

And see - I'm so focused on typing this that I'm gonna be late for work! Haha...